The following days passed in a blur, a continuous sequence of coding, adjustments, and design decisions. Every break between classes was an opportunity to improve something in the game. At night, I barely slept. And when I did, I dreamed of interface menus and bugs fixing themselves.
On Monday, with five days left until the event, Haruki already had a precise mental schedule of what needed to be done: refine the voting system, review sound effects, adjust task responsiveness. And above all, test. Test until there were no doubts left.
During lunch, I went up to the school rooftop, my favorite place to think and work in peace. I didn't like the hustle of the cafeteria, and there, in the silence, with the city view in the background, I felt more focused. I placed the notebook on the cold concrete and opened the screen, starting to review the game, one line of code at a time. My sandwich remained untouched beside me, but hunger was far from a priority at that moment.
While tweaking the interface, I couldn't help but think about the final details needed to bring the game to life. An idea came to mind. It would be perfect to add some voice lines to give more depth to the characters and make them more engaging. But I wasn't sure how to handle that. I had no experience in voice acting and couldn't imagine any voice for the characters other than my mother's.
Upon returning home that afternoon, I went straight to the kitchen, where my mother was preparing dinner.
"Mom, do you have a minute?" I asked, hesitantly.
She turned, smiling upon seeing me enter.
"Of course, Haruki. What's up? Do you need something?"
"Actually, yes. I'm working on that game for the event and thought you could help me. I need someone to record some lines for the characters. I think your voice would be perfect."
She looked at me with a mix of surprise and amusement but soon perked up.
"Oh, really? And you think my voice is suitable for that?" she asked, with a curious smile.
I nodded, eyes gleaming.
"Yes. Whenever you speak, it seems like everyone becomes calm and attentive. Your characters could have that calmness, you know? I think it would fit well in the game."
My mother thought for a moment and then agreed with a nod.
"Alright, I can record some lines. Give me the scripts, and I'll do it today."
I quickly wrote down the dialogues I had sketched during the night and handed them to my mother, who began preparing for the recordings.
When dinner was ready, my father entered the kitchen and looked at the table with a calm smile. Haruki, seizing the opportunity, approached him.
"Dad, can you help me with something too? I need a few more lines for the game. You have a strong, imposing voice. I think it would be perfect for some characters."
Haruki's father, known for his calm and firm demeanor, raised an eyebrow, surprised, but soon smiled.
"Oh, really? You want me to be part of your game too, huh? I can try. What's it about?"
Haruki quickly explained the roles of the characters he wanted his father to voice. One was a kind of festival guide who offered wise advice, and the other, a community leader who spoke with authority.
"Alright, I'll do my best. Just give me the scripts."
Haruki smiled and handed the lines to his father, who promptly went to the corner of the house where the microphone and recording equipment were set up.
That night, after dinner, everyone was busy with the recordings. Haruki's mother, with her soft and welcoming voice, and his father, with his firmness and authority, helped bring the game to life in a way he hadn't imagined. With each line, the game seemed to become more engaging. It was impressive how their voices perfectly matched the characters Haruki had created.
The sound of the recordings echoed through the house as he adjusted the programming and integrated the lines. When the last line was recorded, Haruki leaned back in his chair, satisfied.
On Tuesday, the game was already coming to life. His mother's and father's lines added a unique dimension to the characters, and Haruki felt the project was becoming more engaging than he had imagined. The sound of the voices brought warmth and personality, something he knew would make all the difference at the event.
On Wednesday, the day was dedicated to fine-tuning. Haruki spent the morning testing new animations and the afternoon fixing details in the code. The lines his mother and father recorded were used perfectly, fitting naturally into the scenes.
On Thursday, the last idea he had was to create an animated credits screen to give a finishing touch to the game. He decided to use flower petals that scattered as the credits rolled. His mother helped again, adjusting the flower designs and adding details that made the animation more vibrant.
On Friday, the eve of the event, Haruki finally saved the final version of the game onto a flash drive and began reviewing the presentation he would give at the event. He was confident. He knew that, regardless of what happened, he had put his best into the project.
The event was near, and with a bit of luck, his game might even catch the media's attention. But for now, he was ready for whatever came.